WESTERVILLE, Ohio (Dec. 30) – The Waynesburg University men's basketball team finished its two-day run at the Smokey Ballenger Classic on Saturday by facing the host team from Otterbein University. The Yellow Jackets fell 66-53 to the Cardinals.
 
After neither team was able to score during the first two minutes of play, junior wing Jon Knab posted the first two points in rousing fashion. Knab converted a steal into a thunderous dunk to put up the game's first basket.
 
Sophomore wing Nate Gearhart scored five points on back-to-back Jacket possessions after seven minutes of play to give his team a 12-9 advantage. Unfortunately, that turned out to be the visiting team's last lead of the night, as Otterbein (5-6) outscored the Jackets 25-8 over the remainder of the first half to take a 34-20 lead into the locker room.
 
Waynesburg was able to pull to within seven points of the lead in period number two, but was couldn't finish the comeback. The Jackets outscored Otterbein 33-32 in the second half. The Orange and Black connected on more total field goals than its opposition (21-to-18). However, the Cardinals were more productive from three-point range (10-of-23 to five-of-17) and at the foul line (20-of-22 to six-of-11).
 
Senior guard Christian Koroly scored a team-high 16 points for Waynesburg. He also swiped a game-high three steals. Knab chipped in 15 points on seven-of-11 shooting from the floor before fouling out of the game. Junior forward Marcus Wallace pulled down a game-high nine rebounds in the loss.
 
With the 2016 portion of its schedule complete, Waynesburg will tip off the new year on Thursday with a home Presidents' Athletic Conference (PAC) game against Chatham. Start time is scheduled for 7:30 p.m.